>> hello and welcome. i am mcginley with the news. >> the headlines at this hour. the gaddafi regime launches air strikes in eastern libya as it battles to regain control. two u.s. soldiers are killed in a shooting at frankfurt airport. german interior minister thomas de maiziere takes the defense portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> we begin in libya, where

gaddafi has threatened to start a war if the u.s. or nato intervenes in the unrest. speaking at a political rally, gaddafi says thousands of libyans could be killed if foreign powers and to the country. member is in the suez canal are heading toward libya as the u.s. and u.n. high pressure on the regime. forces loyal to gaddafi launched air strikes on a rebel- controlled town in the east of the country. >> dozens of seriously injured rebel soldiers have been admitted to this hospital. pro-gaddafi forces have launched air strikes on the city. the libyan leader attempts to recapture lost territory in the east of the country. inhabitants are fleeing the battles. there were intense clashes further west, in the oil port held by the rebels.

gaddafi is striking back from his stronghold in the capital, tripoli. libyan state television broadcast his latest rambling speech, in which he vowed to fight until the last man and woman. in benghazi, the rebels controlled the center of the uprising. >> we are here to be trained by army officers to free tripoli and its suburbs. >> the rebel national libyan council has called for external backing against gaddafi's mercenaries, who it says have been recruited from other parts of the africa. >> we call upon the un and any other organization that supports our resolution to deliver air strikes on mercenary strongholds being used to conduct attacks against civilians. >> but the group has voiced opposition to other foreign

intervention. it says it aims to topple gaddafi without the help of outside forces on libyan soil. >> earlier, we spoke to our correspondent in benghazi and asked for the latest he has been hearing about the current fighting. >> there was an attempt to start an offensive by gaddafi's forces, which started in the morning. it was going back and forth the whole day. it seems it is back in the hands of the anti-good of the forces that control the city now. gaddafi's airplanes fired into the city. there were about 20 people dead today in this fight over the city. >> you are an -- in benghazi. what can you tell us about preparations there? >> it was amazing.

when the news came this morning about the fighting in the other city, people were worried, but all the youngsters went into the barracks here, which are abandoned. they want to get military training. i went to some of the barracks. some of the soldiers who went over to the revolutionary side or teaching youngsters how to use a kalashnikov and other things. they went off on trucks into the war zone. it seems like they will be successful to stop this offensive. >> we thank you for that update. meanwhile, the international criminal court in the hague says it is opening an investigation into possible war crimes committed by the gadhafi's regime. the violence in libya has prompted thousands to flee, causing a growing refugee crisis. france and britain say they will evacuate thousands of egyptian

workers stranded on the border of tunisia, responding to a call for help from the u.n. refugee agency. >> that are here by the thousands at the border crossing into tunisia. they are hungry, thirsty, and exhausted. many are foreigners who had jobs in libya. one man collapses against -- amid the mayhem, in urgent need of aid being provided by the red crescent and other groups. the sheer numbers are overwhelming. >> the two nations gives us something to eat and drink, but many of us are exhausted. we have nowhere to sleep. >> shelter and clean drinking water are in short supply. international aid is beginning to arrive, but it takes time. >> we are expecting about a $38 million operation to support the food supplies. >> many refugees feel abandoned

by their governments and are leaving camps to try to make their own way home. these buses are destined for the coast from which refugees hope to find a way to continue their journey. meanwhile, tens of thousands remain stranded at the border with no other option but to wait. >> to germany, where u.s. president barack obama says he is outraged by an attack on u.s. troops at frankfurt airport. two airmen were killed and two wounded when gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying u.s. military personnel. angela marco quickly condemned the killing and promised to form an investigation. the gunman, a cause of the national, is now in police -- a kosovo national, is now in police custody. >> the vessel came under attack outside frankfurt airport's terminal 2. the suspect approached the bus and shot the first victim outside the vehicle.

he then shot and killed the driver in his seat. two other soldiers were seriously wounded. police arrested the suspect, who they identified as a 21-year-old man from kosovo who lives in frankfurt. the state interior minister said the gunman's motive was not yet clear. >> i have no way of determining whether there was a terrorist, the hottest -- jihadist, or islamist background to the shooting. >> authorities have stepped up security. >> german chancellor merkle has confirmed a minor cabinet restructure after the resignation of defense minister karl-theodor zu guttenberg. the current interior minister, thomas de maiziere, will take

over the defense portfolio. he will be replaced as interior minister by friedrich, the minister of the csu. earlier, we talked to our political correspondent and ask how strong the cabinet looks now, after this reshuffle. >> the new cabinet definitely lacks the glamour which the young aristocrat karl-theodor zu guttenberg brought to the government, but it is not weaker for that. the new defense minister, thomas de maiziere, comes from a military family. his father was commander in chief of the german armed forces from 1966 to 1972. as inr to afghanistan several times, where german police have been training afghan officers. he is familiar with the challenges that will face him in the defense ministry. he is also a very loyal merkle man.

his nickname in parliament is "merkle's universal weapon." he has always acquitted himself very well. the cusu could have nominated a successor to gutteberg, but chose instead to take the interior minister. merkle is glad to have this reshuffle behind her as quickly as possible. >> we have incredibly high oil prices. gaddafi's forces are battling for control of the oil port brega. analysts are already beginning to doubt whether saudi arabia could fill the gap. crude oil traded in london at $115 this wednesday. these prices will choke off the economic upswing in europe if they persist.

>> the oil facility is a prized both gaddafi loyalists and his opponents want to win. it is one of the key oil refineries in libya. only the security guards remain. hundreds of workers have fled over the past few days. for weeks, libya's oil output has been minimal. but that has not led to shortages worldwide. many countries hold massive reserves. germany has enough for around three months. even so, oil analysts are nervous. if unrest spreads across the arab world, there could be further interruptions in supply. the world is dependent on oil from the middle east and north africa. it is 36% of the global supply. around 20% comes from europe, russia, and asia. much of the rest is produced in north and latin america. saudi arabia is the only oil- producing country which could increase its output in the short

term. serious political unrest there would likely create huge turmoil on global oil markets. >> oil remained the dominant factor weighing on european markets this wednesday. in frankfurt, germany's blue- chip index closed 0.5% lower. the eurostoxx 50 down as well. the dow industrials are up at 12,104. the euro is trading for $1.3855. good news for portugal. investors remained faithful to the highly indebted country. newly issued securities were met by solid demand today. the portuguese government was satisfied. during a meeting in berlin, the portuguese prime minister reiterated that his country would not need help from abroad. merkle endorsed portuguese austerity measures.

european heads of state will meet in march to discuss measures that will guarantee the stability of the euro. more than a year after igniting the tablet computing craze, apple has unveiled the second version of the ipad, with a surprise appearance by steve jobs, who has been on medical leave since january. he is promoting something thinner, lighter, faster, and better equipped. apple sold nearly 50 million in 2010, adding nearly $9 billion to the company's revenues last year. at the global computing expo in hanover, except hers are introducing their innovations, prototypes, and gadgets to a total of 300,000 visitors. the trade fair runs until

saturday. here is a look for you. >> lg's latest model is being billed as the world's fastest smartphone. it comes with powerful processors and two camera lenses for three-dimensional photography. there are abundant applications as well. they are increasingly a serving of sinister supplies. what looks like a harmless video game can harbor viruses or spy where. >> we are secretly sending premium text messages at an added user cost, or it may have a still your address book, or user gps device. >> security is always a major topic. most here agree that technology alone is not enough to combat hackers. there are mounting calls for international data protection laws. many are predicting the demise

of the classic desktop computer, but others say that is premature. >> computer game simply require power, lots of it. the big desktop computers will be around for a while. smart phones are ok when you are on the go and nee tstay in ouch, a not arede r avin t will >>co in islamabad. drove ofity gathd

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possible country, which follo a strict form of the parents to islam. -- adherence to islam. >> the important that it is important to grow a long

beard. its important that women cover themselves up completely. t en i comes to islamic justice, to open to scientific development and to islamic philosophy, that test. >> saudi's absolute monarchy controls religion, politics, the military, and the economy. political parties are thopposition is only active abroad. demonstrations are not in the kingdom. >> saudi a relatively small population compared to its wealth and the size of the country. wi bth last country to see an uprising. >> gradua reform and trying to

maintain the people's support. the leader of morocco is seen as a reformer close to the people. the king has established contact with the country's opposition. >> the king of morocco has succeeded in involving ros government, which is a process his father started. maracas classical opposition even participate in government. he has succeeded in turning it from an opposition party into a governing party, and to take the wind out of its sales. >> recently, tens of thousands of people have taken part in densatnsor the first time. they want a say in shaping the country's economic policy and politics. there are big siaprle i morocco. the country has hardly any

natural resources and depends mainly on tourism. moroccans now want a real say in the country as well. >> they do not want to ortow the king. they want him to hold a position like the kg of spain or britain's queen. >> protests in yemen have led to new alliances in the country. over the weekend, tensf thousands of demonstrators again took to the streets against president of guerrilla -- presidental. tribal leaders have joined anti- government protests. >> these days, yemen is ruled by a former army con, who like

gaddafi has divided the security forces and the government mistti bwe h ss and other members of his family. the klan ruled yemen. >> the president threatened to use force against the people before offering government rtipioto the opposition. the protest movement refused. for many years, the country was wrackebyiv w. in 1990, the former communist south joined the north, ruled by saleh. but discontent with his role is growing. >> the people driving men's revolution are the students at universities and the formerly socialist south. then there are the clans in the mountains. they are the three components. but there is also a consensus.

the want to get rid of despotism. they want an economy that is fair and just. >> in algeria, demonstrations have led to the lifting of emergency rule. but dissatisfaction with the government remains widespread in the country, despite higher revenues from oil and natural gas exports. algeria's young people have few prospects. unemployment remains high. corruption is widespread. leading the authoritarian regime is [unintelligible] demonstrators face a massive police presence. hundreds have been injured, and some killed, a shock for a country already traumatized by civil war. >> the civil war in the 1990's has been a wait upon every democracy movement in algeria. many are afraid it could lead to

a new civil war. estimates suggest between 100,200 thousand people were killed in the conflict, -- between 100,000 and 200,000 were killed in the conflict, and there is fear that could happen again. >> the president lifted the state of emergency which began in 1992, a major achievement for the opposition. in bahrain, shiites and sunnis are jointly demanding democratic change. the country hosts a formula one race, luxury hotels, and help the tourism industry, and the u.s. fleet. the king then drew sharp international criticism for the recent police crackdown against demonstrators.

now, the monarch has allowed long-time opposition figures to return. the majority of the population are shiites, but many feel discriminated against by the sunni-dominated society. the demand is for real democracy. >> the want to decentralize power. the one for the government to be independent and no longer appointed by the king. those are their demands. i believe they are ahead of other gulf states in that respect. >> people across the arab world have shown they are no longer willing to be silent subjects. they are demanding their rights as citizens, and they want to exercise them. the region appears to have reached a point of no return. >> with that, we wrap up "the

journal" at this hour. stay tuned.

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from washington, the mclaughlin group," the american original. for over two decades, the vogeico, committed to providing service to its auto insurance customers for over 70 years. more information on auto insurance at geico.com or 1-800-947-auto any time of the day or night. somewhere in america, a city comes to life. it moves effortlessly, breathes easily.

it flows with clean water. it makes its skyline greener and its population healthier. all to become the kind of city people want to live and work in. somewhere in america, we've already answered some of the nation's toughest questions. and the over sixty thousand people of siemens are ready to do it again. siemens. answers. issue one, gaddafi crackdown. >> a revolutionary, i will die as a martyr at the end! 92 in libya this week, thousands of protestors demanded that the libyan head of state moammar gaddafi surrender his power. libya is a big nation, sandwiched between egypt and tunisia on the mediterranean sea. gaddafi has been in power for more than 40 years, since 1969!

gaddafi is not stepping down, he is cracking down, cracking down on protestors. libya security forces are shooting protestors in the streets, shooting to kill. death toll estimates have ranged from 1,000 to 300, but gaddafi's hold on the company is slipping. the protestors gained the eastern section of the country in five libyan cities. throughout monday and tuesday, president obama was silent on the libyan crisis, late on wednesday mr. obama broke his silence with carefully chosen words. >> first, we are doing everything we can to protect american citizens. and it's my highest priority. in a volatile situation like this one, it's imperative the nations and people of the world speak with one voice, and that that has been our focus. the entire world is watching. >> question, what is the reason why president obama has been hesitant to speak out against

gaddafi and. >> it was very weak statement, john. but the reason he's been hesitant to speak is there's 6,000 americans, something like that, as of friday still in that country in various places. gov a maniac responsible for the lockerbie massacre. he could attempt reprisals against americans, shooting of americans, and hostage taking and all the rest. but this crisis, john, gaddafi is approaching his end right now, and in my view lot of people are pushing for american intervention. if anybody's going to go into stop a massacre going on or start using poison gas, it ought to be a nato operation and the italians and others ought to go in first for this reason, this used to be an italian province. we have no visit al person interests there. put together by the italians, you know. the eastern part of it that's broken way, italians captured in 1912. ram el left in 1943. this is a problem for the international community. if somebody has to move, we

should help. but we should not take the lead. >> that's what he said. >> well, but i do agree with folks -- that it was a very, very weak statement. weaker than anybody else's delivered the europeans, for example. >> i think the president is handling it totally just right. first of all, there are americans over there. he's dealing with a lunatic personality, a personality who has chemical weapons. you don't want to do anything to set off those trip wires or create a hostage situation. secondly, i think this is not a fight, that the america is in the middle of. this is more of the european concern, and the president is right, you have to speak with one international voice. i'm sure if there is a nato operation that does get to that, they do want to pursue a no-fly zone, the u.s. will be right in the middle of that. you almost wish we had a standing peacekeeping force that could be dispatched, but we don't. and the u.s. doesn't want to

own this crisis because there's too much anti-american sentiment over there, in a u.s. intervention could come back and really hurt us in the end. >> do you think the europeans want a big influx of -- a huge influx of libyans into their territory? >> no. obviously not. but i disagree. i think this is an example crying out for american leadership. actually over the last two years there have been two clear examples that cried out for american presidential leadership. one started nearly two years ago with the iranian revolt that is ongoing and the second now is libya. you're dealing with two regimes that are enemies of the united states, state son and supports of torque exports of terror and the peoples in those two countries are crying out for some sort of moral support. nobody is asking for the 10th division to walk through tehran or the streets of tripoli. but the president of the united states absolutely in this case should have come out with a

much more morally clarifying statement and much earlier than he has. and as for the 6,000 americans, what he ended up doing was treating them as if they were already hostages, by backing of off and not doing anything immediately. remember, president reagan called give the mad dog of the middle east. compared to this, president obama is the chihuahua of the west. where is the leadership? >> you think that president speech was measured and appropriate? >> i think the president's speech was measured, appropriate. i agree with both pat and eleanor. i think this might be a first, that totally the president has gotten it right. but i also think that the united states and president obama is mindful of this, cannot go into this alone. one, the united states doesn't have the same length in libya as it did in egypt. and also, again, as pat said, this is a european affair. if anything is going to be

done, it's going to have to be done through the international community. it can be on led by the united states and it's going to be led by the europeans, and just one other word of caution as we saw happening in egypt. there are lots of things that are happening behind the scenes, out of the public view, that we don't know about yet. so while everyone is criticizing the president for not doing anything, i think down road we're going to hear about all sorts of things the administration has been doing behind the scenes to get a handle on the situation, to protect american lives on the ground, to protect not only american interests but european interests, because let's not forget, oil. >> okay, more moammar. >> moammar gaddafi spoke to the libyan people on thursday by telephone. his one-hour message was transmitted by libyan tv and rebroadcast on the al-jazeera website. gaddafi tried to shift the blame to another outlaw, osama bin laden, and a supply of drugs for the uprising.

he also minimized his role in libya's government. >> committing criminals [not understandable] there are institutions that handle the issues of the state. >> question is osama bin laden in any way line the libyan gaddafi pushout? >> this one -- responsible either although its sales will go down. what's his name, gaddafi said they were put in the cafe. but no, he is not, john. but you know, the united states of america, i think it's important here, unless there's a massive bloodbath or chemical weapons are used, that we let the libyans win their own revolution against these individuals. they do it themselves on their own. then if they want folks to come in and help them rebuild their

country, i think that's vitally important. >> you think -- >> we don't win the revolution. >> you thinker going soft on osama? he was responsible for 9/11, pat? there's it doubt -- which. >> gaddafi hasn't -- the 9/11. >> a little 9/11, lockerbie. and that's his baby! >> the only way osama bin egyp and also, again, as pat that co ungoverned state, and it could become a haven for terrorists. that's an outcome that we don't want. but this is an unhinged personality. and the president is trying to balance american national security interests because he is actually been an ally. he gave up his weapons of mass destruction program under the bush administration, and he has been playing ball with us. and so -- and he's controlling a lot of oil. so this is one of those tightropes. >> we don't have any evidence that osama bin laden and al- qaeda per se are behind this.

but gaddafi may actually have a point in that there is the hidden hand of islamism moving through all of these revolutions, and definitely in egypt from the very beginning in the form of the muslim brotherhood. you have iran making mischief in about rain and now in libya you have an al-qaeda affiliate operating in the east called the libyan islamic liberation group. so bin laden is not directing this per se, but you cannot exclude the influence of very -- [everyone talking at once] >> the thing that moammar gaddafi who is laying blame on osama bin laden and gaddafi and the regime whenever anything goes wrong in that country, they blame al-qaeda. it's this umbrella name for anything and anyone who is against the regime. so i'm going to take what i just saw in that clip as just a mad man proving he is a mad

man. >> he's deranged, john. but that's what makes him especially dangerous. >> the issue is, who is organize straighting or at least having a hidden hand in running or managing -- [everyone talking at once] >> good question. is now the time to topple gaddafi, through decisive u.s.- european action? >> decisive libyan action, let the libyans do it first. ifes there's a hard shore that starts there, have the europeans go in with the americans backing them up. if they start killing americans, shoot down his planes. but don't go in unless our own people are imperilled. >> i think it's awfully hard for the world to stand by if this really does hundred in a horror show from the skies. but i'm with pat in the sense that i think it's not an american show. this is mostly a european show and has to be collective nato action. and i think over the weekends after we finish taping this she there will be a lot of

conversations going on and things could change very rapidly. >> and i think -- >> you think it's time to topple him now? >> absolutely. he's been in power 42 years too long. but i think if we do have military intervention, it will be a nato operation. but the united states will play a visit al role because if you have a huge humanitarian crisis here, this is on moral grounds and economic grounds. jonathan points out, the fragil economic recovery. if this crisis is ongoing, that global and u.s. economic recovery is going to be very jeopardized along with his re- election chances. >> who who take over the government? >> in libya? >> yes. >> nobody knows. that's why we need to wake up to the fact -- [everyone talking at once] >> is that an argument against toppling him now? >> give is a terrorist in word and deemed he needs to go. he's not an ally of the united states, unlike hosni mubarak. >> you know libya is a clan society and gaddafi is tribal. but clannish. and that means a lot of clans and a lot of centers of power.

not unlike afghanistan, for example. and elsewhere. >> john -- >> but the point is this. if it's a clan society, and there's no real law running that society as gaddafi was, what will happen to that society? will it be a cancerous ongoing sore that really should be eradicated now? >> what we really don't know that yet. but what we're seeing -- eastern libya has already torn away from gaddafi so we're starting to get a view into what -- what a new libya could look like. but again, this is -- [everyone talking at once] >> who is on the ground over there? >> this is three provinces of empire. in the east and the south, and you've got -- and the reason that device in the east now can't get to the west to help them, i talked this morning on television, there's a 49 in the center of the country which is strongly pro-gaddafi.

>> think gaddafi should be taken down? >> everybody thinks he should be taken down. >> taken down now? >> it could come apart. >> topple him now. the answer is issue work to organizing for america. >> as more protestors come from nevada, chicago and elsewhere, i'm not going to allow their voices to overwhelm the voices of the millions of taxpayers from all across the state who know we're doing the right thing. >> the right thing is republican governor of wisconsin scott walker's state budget bill. the bill is designed by governor walker to close wisconsin's projected $3.6 billion deficit for fiscal year 2012 and 2013. the budget bill would save $1.7 billion. here's how he breaks it out. one, no layoffs. avoid 1500 immediate state worker layoffs and 10,000 to

12,000 long-term layoffs. two, underwrite education. wisconsin public schools gained $1 billion in savings. three, protect worker workers' rights. no mandatory union membership, no forced union dues. up to $1,000 in savings per worker. four, pension plan pay-in. workers contribute 5.8% of paycheck to a pension plan. their current contribution, zero. five, health insurance pay-in. workers contribute 12.6% of their paycheck to their health insurance plan. up from a current 5%. six, no collecti bargaining rights for unions, except in the instance of wage negotiations. governor walker says that an end to collective bargaining would save the state $30 million in the remaining fiscal year. seven, protect bargaining for

public safety unions. firefighters, policemen and state troopers retain all of their collective bargaining rights. president obama last week weighed in on the situation while he was in milwaukee. "some of what avenue heard coming out of wisconsin where you're just making it hard for public employees to collectively bargain generally on unions." question, is republican gordon walker's intention to close the $3.6 billion shortfall or to crack down on wisconsin's state worker unions? jonathan? >> both. there's a serious budget problem in wisconsin. but at the same time, governor walker tipped his hand in carving out the public safety unions from his collective bargaining gambit and also not taking yes for an answer when the public service union said yes, we'll do the five and 12, yes, we'll pay into our pensions and health care, and

he said, i'd love to negotiate but there's no one to negotiate with. >> you've got to stop -- they call it collective bargaining. it's collusive bargaining. what you've got is a union put enormousages of money in, they get together and cut a deal, give this. a sweet hart contract and give it to the taxpayers. what this governor walker is saying, those days are over. we've got somebody representing the people now, and this will be an adversary position you folks -- [everyone talking at once] >> since when does scott walker represent the people? >> he's elected! >> he's representing the money interests. >> let her finish. >> including lots of money from the coke brothers. the unions have capitulated, they've said they would go for the higher commitments to the pension funds, higher health premiums, and he he is saying no he wants to wine out their right to bargain. this is drawing a line in the sand 2012. it's the republicans trying to dismantle the fund-raising arm

and the political arm of the -- [everyone talking at once] >> it's going to do for the democrats exactly what the republicans did for the democrats [everyone talking at once] >> immigrants. >> i don't think so. i don't think so! look, governor walker got elected on the platform of through any means necessary, getting wisconsin fiscal house in order. he ran on the platform. he got elected. nearly 60% of the state assembly republicans. 60%, almost of the state senate, 60% republican. all voted in on this very platform. the state is broke. there is no money. the governoree train is over. pat is right, the system -- the union negotiation, collective bargaining system is incredibly corrupt because the unions sit on both sides of the barking table and nobody has been representing the taxpayers. and you know what -- this battle is really about two other big things. it's about the debate over the proper size and role of government, number one. and number two, the battle

between the give me end it's. ment culture. >> what about the -- >> organization for america, ofa? does that ring a bell with anybody? >> obama has made a terrible mistake. he went back to his community organizing role, came out all with these union guys. >> wait a minute! you know that he's got -- ofa is now mobilized and they've sent people there, and this is obama's political entity, brought in to win him the election is that appropriate behavior? >> i think it's -- look, he can do it sure but he's a community organizer. the key is this is it going national. [everyone talking at once] the battle of wisconsin is the first battle, the battle for america. [everyone talking at once] unions are demonstrate engine every capital in the country. >> operations are still doing fine in america. [everyone talking at once]

>> cozy relationship with politicians, which is much -- >> will you let our guest in. >> jonathan, you think it's the makings of another -- >> which piece? >> well, and these that obama is utilizing his still standing ofa, to mobilize the crowd, to get the crowd there for taking his position? >> there's no question that no other issue, not the health care fight, not anything has mobilized the progressive movement and those folks who were volunteering for ofa -- left, during the 2008 campaign, than this. and you know, i don't like the inference that this is being directed, that ofa has an office in the white house. that's not the case. [everyone talking at once] >> show up, bring your son.

>> that's illegal or just -- >> no, it's not illegal. >> i just want to mick that clear. >> if it's obama's concurrence behind that, is that inappropriate for a president of the united states? >> yes. >> no! [everyone talking at once] >> you don't think so? >> personally -- speaking for myself. >> okay. >> the left is furious that president obama has not gone to wisconsin and they're playing the tape of him from the campaign saying i will put on -- >> look. >> excuse me, pat, want to finish! >> he wants to walk with the strikers and play that tape over and over again. and if only this were happening in the summer of 2012, it's a little too early. >> i don't think as far as his re-election is concerned this is a mistake? >> it's the democrats, john. >> that he's -- >> he's a driven by obama or concurred with by obama that his political entity is back in at a gathering like that, where you have a -- [everyone talking at once]

>> what will happen in november? >> obama balances the federal budget, then he can comment on state budgets what governors are trying to do. >> you cannot let these folks -- they've got teachers on wildcat strikes bringing kids in, they're crowding legislatures. legislators leaving the stissue >> respect to the issue of whether gays and lesbians should be able to get married, my feelings about this are constantly evolving. i struggle with this. >> president obama this week addressed the subject of gay marriage. two persons of the same gender marrying each other. he has decided that his administration will no longer defend the constitutionality of the law that was enacted by president clinton in 1996, almost 15 years ago. this law is called doma. the defensive marriage act. doma defines marriage as "a

legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife." doma denies federal benefits and inheritance rights to gay and lesbian couples, even if the couple was married in a state where gay marriage is legal currently. connecticut, iowa, massachusetts, new hampshire, vermont, and the district of columbia. two and i half years ago president barack obama was more traditional in his views on what marriage is. >> i believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. >> so? what has changed, mr. obama's view? it could be the self-described shellacking he took in last fall's midterm elections which many a trip to a lackluster turnout by the democrats to prevents a repeat performance, when he runs for re-election in 2012, some say he is rallying his liberal supporters with policy changes like the repeal

of "don't ask, don't tell" his reversal on gay marriage. question, is obama also mr. obama baiting the republicans to divert their attention from the economy to social issues at this particular time? >> can i take that question? >> you may. >> no. here's the reason why this issue is coming up now. there are two cases in the second circuit, new york and connecticut, that have a filing deadline of march 11th. the significance of this is that in that particular circuit, there is no case law, no precedent as to whether cases where sexual orientation is at issue, whether they can be argued on a rational basis or heightened scrutiny. and every other circuit, there's rational basis. here there isnd therefore, the administration and the defense, the plaintiffs, have to answer the question, should there be rational basis review of these cases, or heightened scrutiny?

the administration was under an obligation from the court to answer the question. that's what is happening. the administration was asked the question, it's answered a question. and now it's the court that decides what -- how those cases will be viewed. >> you know that if we were not doing this issue, we would probably do the budget. the budget is coming next week, and it could involve the shutdown of the united states congress. >> right. >> big issue. we're not doing it. you know why? because he put this front of us. what he's done is, he's managed to divert the press attention, this whole weekends, so that the budget is not discussed and he doesn't go in with anything that is going to appeal -- going to appeal to the -- those in congress. >> there's nothing stopping you from doing the budget. it's a huge deal! it's not like the folks in the white house decided let's throw this issue out to divert it. >> he has -- this card in his pocket. he can play when he wants.

>> john -- >> he plays it on the threshold -- do you understand what i'm saying? controlling take one and the debate. >> this is a diversion but the key question here, john, he's told the justice department not to defend a federal law. when republicans get in what, will outs of time. bye-bye! vogeico, committed to providing service to its auto insurance customers for over 70 years. more information on auto insurance at geico.com or 1-800-947-auto any time of the day or night.

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